Walking in Los Angeles can be dangerous. For the second year in a row, more people have died in traffic accidents than from homicides in LA. That's a pretty clear sign that pedestrian safety is a serious issue. In 2025, with new city policies and state laws in place, it's really important to understand both the dangers you face and your rights as a pedestrian. If you’ve been injured, speaking with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and protect your rights. This guide breaks down pedestrian safety in LA, how the law protects victims, what's new in 2025, and what steps to take if you're in an accident.
Los Angeles remains one of the most dangerous big cities for people walking. In 2024, 302 people died in traffic accidents, and 170 of them were pedestrians. While that's slightly better than 2023 (when 185 pedestrians died), it's still worse than the 268 homicides during the same time. The increase in pedestrian deaths since COVID has happened across the country, but LA's numbers are particularly high.
Some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others. In 2024, South Los Angeles police stations reported 85 traffic deaths combined. Downtown, Van Nuys, and Westlake each had about a dozen deaths. These patterns show ongoing safety problems in neighborhoods that already have poor infrastructure.
The Vision Zero program started in 2015 to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025 hasn't worked. Instead, deaths have almost doubled since it began. Reports blame weak political commitment, scattered oversight, and lack of transparency.
Compared to similar cities, LA's situation is serious: in 2023, Los Angeles had 176 pedestrian deaths, much higher than New York City's 114, despite similar population sizes. LA's death rate is nearly four times the national average.
Legal Protections for Pedestrian Accident Victims
California law strongly protects pedestrians. The California Vehicle Code requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Even if there's no painted crosswalk, intersections are legally considered crosswalks, and drivers must yield.
California uses a "pure comparative negligence" system. This means accident victims can still get compensation even if they were partly at fault, though their award gets reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if you're found 20% responsible, you can still get 80% of your damages from the driver or other responsible party.
Recent legal changes have improved these protections. The Daylighting Saves Lives Bill, starting January 2025, prohibits parking within 20 feet of most street corners and crosswalks, and within 15 feet at intersections with curb extensions even if there's no red curb. This helps both drivers and pedestrians see better and reduces accident risk. Also, the Freedom to Walk Act (2023) made safe jaywalking legal, allowing pedestrians to cross outside marked crosswalks when it's safe. This makes it easier to recover damages when a driver is negligent.
How 2025 Laws Change Pedestrian Accident Claims
The new laws directly affect injury claims. The Daylighting Saves Lives Bill targets a major cause of crosswalk accidents visibility blocked by parked cars. A driver who parks too close to an intersection can now be clearly found negligent. Tickets, citations, and parking records can be strong evidence in pedestrian injury cases. Los Angeles is increasing enforcement, and these citations strengthen cases for injured pedestrians.
Additionally, laws supporting safe unmarked crosswalk use make it less likely that pedestrians will be unfairly blamed for their injuries. The law's assumption that pedestrians have the right-of-way, plus broader definitions of legal crosswalks, increases protections and potential compensation.
National data shows how big this issue is: Between January 2021 and December 2023, U.S. hospitals recorded over 137,000 emergency visits for pedestrian injuries. With new laws in place, pedestrian accident victims in 2025 have a better chance of getting full and fair compensation.
Key Factors in Pedestrian Accident Claims
Not all accidents are treated the same under the law. Several important elements affect how claims are resolved:
- Driver Impairment: Alcohol or drug use remains a major factor in LA's high crash rates. When impairment is proven, liability is clearer, and victims often get higher settlements. Still, insurers may try to minimize payouts, leaving victims vulnerable to an unfair settlement if they don’t have strong legal representation.
- Vehicle Speed: Speed is the biggest factor in how serious pedestrian accidents are. Lower speed limits, enforcement, and speed-calming features (like raised crosswalks) could prevent up to 29% of pedestrian deaths. Even small increases in vehicle speed greatly raise the chance of serious injuries or death.
- Time and Lighting Conditions: Most fatal pedestrian crashes happen at night, when visibility is poor and drivers are less alert. Street and crosswalk lighting quality can affect both crash likelihood and who's held responsible.
- Type of Vehicle: Pedestrians are more likely to be seriously injured or killed when hit by SUVs or pickup trucks because of their size and weight.
- Infrastructure Quality: Well-designed, maintained sidewalks and crossings help reduce risk. Poor pedestrian infrastructure (missing sidewalks, lack of crosswalk signals, no corner bulb-outs) can increase both accident frequency and severity and may affect legal liability if the city or another entity failed in its duties.
Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident
If you're hit by a vehicle in Los Angeles, quick action is important. Here's what you should do:
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if your injuries seem minor, internal damage or concussions might not be obvious right away. Medical records are crucial evidence for any claim.
2. Document Everything: Take photos of the scene where vehicles are positioned, signs, crosswalks, your injuries. Get witness names and contact information. Keep a copy of the police or accident report.
3. Report to Police: File a police report no matter how serious the accident seems. This creates an official record and can help preserve evidence.
4. File Promptly: California gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim. If a public entity (like the city or transit agency) is involved, you only have six months. Understanding exactly how long you have to file a personal injury claim is critical, since missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to compensation.
5. Preserve Evidence: Security video or traffic camera footage can be extremely valuable but may be routinely deleted. Act quickly by contacting property owners or authorities to save this evidence.
When You Should Contact a Lawyer
Not every accident requires a lawyer, but these situations strongly suggest getting legal help:
- Severe Injuries: Cases involving significant or permanent injuries, long-term disability, or complex medical recovery
- Disputed Fault: If an insurance company or the other party contests responsibility or downplays your injuries
- Government or Public Entity Involvement: Claims against public agencies (buses, poorly maintained crosswalks, dangerous public sidewalks) require fast action and understanding of special procedures
- Hit-and-Run Incidents: A lawyer can help find the driver, pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage, and work with police
Many victims ask themselves whether they should handle their personal injury claim alone, but the reality is that these cases are rarely simple. A skilled attorney not only protects your rights but also manages every aspect of the process, from communication and evidence gathering to negotiating with insurers and representing you in court if necessary.
Prevention: Safety Tips for LA Pedestrians
While knowing your legal rights is important, prevention is key to staying safe. Here are practical safety tips for 2025:
- Increase Your Visibility: Wear reflective clothing, armbands, or use a phone flashlight when walking at dawn, dusk, or night. Poor visibility is a common factor in urban accidents.
- Choose Safer Routes: Avoid dangerous intersections and areas with frequent collisions, especially after dark. South LA and central neighborhoods typically have the highest pedestrian fatalities.
- Use Marked Crosswalks and Sidewalks whenever possible. If infrastructure is lacking, choose wider roads with islands or other safety features.
- Observe Traffic and Traffic Controls: Wait for signals, watch for turning vehicles, and try to make eye contact with drivers. Cross at intersections where speed limits are posted.
- Leverage Technology: Newer vehicles increasingly offer pedestrian detection or automatic emergency braking. While technology helps, pedestrians should avoid distractions and stay aware of their surroundings at all times.
The City's Evolving Response and the Future of Pedestrian Safety
City officials are working to reduce pedestrian deaths, though progress is slow. Recent reviews of Vision Zero found missed deadlines, uneven funding, and poor cooperation between agencies. There are increasing calls for clearer goals and more investment in safety infrastructure.
- Infrastructure Improvements: The city is gradually adding speed-calming designs, daylighted corners, midblock crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and wider sidewalks. Research shows these changes could prevent up to 36% of crosswalk fatalities.
- Vehicle Safety Advances: Car manufacturers are introducing improved headlights, safer front-end designs, and vehicle-based pedestrian detection. As LA's vehicles modernize, pedestrian safety should gradually improve.
- Public Education Campaigns: Local initiatives are learning from successful programs elsewhere, such as New Jersey's "Street-Smart NJ," which measurably improved how both drivers and pedestrians follow the laws.
Navigating an Evolving Legal Landscape
Laws and enforcement priorities are constantly changing. Pedestrians and accident victims should stay informed about:
- New state and city protections, such as the Daylighting Saves Lives Bill and updated sidewalk safety measures
- Ongoing policy changes in enforcement and changing definitions of crosswalks or right-of-way
- Increases in transparency, street design standards, and accountability by city leadership following public pressure
If you're not familiar with legal processes or recent law changes, consulting with an experienced LA personal injury attorney ensures you benefit from the most current protections.
Pedestrian safety remains a serious challenge in Los Angeles. While infrastructure improvements and new laws show promise, annual fatalities still exceed those from violent crime. Continued investment, education, and policy reform are essential for safer streets.
If you're involved in a pedestrian accident, act quickly, get medical attention, document everything about the incident, file reports promptly, and consider legal representation, especially for serious or disputed cases. Everyone in the community can make a difference by following safety practices.
LA's goal should be streets where pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers can all travel safely. Progress requires informed actions by residents, consistent enforcement by authorities, and continued advocacy for accountability and better solutions.
Need legal help after a pedestrian accident? Don't face this challenging time alone. Contact our qualified personal injury attorneys to understand your rights and get the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation and take the first step toward recovery and justice.